Client Snapshot

CatSci is a growing innovation partner headquartered in Cardiff, UK, with over 110 team members supporting biotech and pharma clients in the development of complex synthetic molecules. During a critical marketing transition phase, the business sought to rebuild its marketing function while supporting the development of internal talent.

The Challenge

Caitlin Daniels, CatSci’s Marketing Manager, had recently returned to the business during a period of significant change. With a strong foundation in content and communications, she found herself unexpectedly managing all marketing operations — without a senior leader in place. While highly capable, she lacked exposure to marketing strategy, technical skills (e.g. SEO), and frameworks to engage confidently with senior scientific stakeholders. Recognising the gaps in her knowledge, she sought guidance to develop her strategic and technical expertise.

The Solution

CatSci hired Paul Mills, Fractional CMO to support the rebuilding of its marketing function, of which mentorship formed a core part of the engagement. Over six months, Paul worked closely with Caitlin to build her confidence and broaden her strategic toolkit. This included:

• Involving her in live strategy workshops with the leadership team
• Introducing brand architecture and content planning tools
• Teaching AI prompt engineering for better content development outcomes
• Training in SEO and on-page optimisation techniques
• Sharing structured frameworks (PAS, SPA) to strengthen Go-to-Market messaging
• Giving access to VCMO-built custom GPTs to accelerate content ideation and metadata creation
• Being available at any time for on-going coaching or technical feedback sessions.

The Outcome

Caitlin’s transformation was clear and widely recognised. She became more confident in presenting ideas, managing stakeholders, and delivering higher-impact marketing outputs. The successful onboarding of a new Head of Marketing further reinforced her position as a trusted team member. Today, Caitlin continues to thrive — valued by the wider business development team and senior leadership for her contribution, consistency, and growing strategic insight.

Client Testimonial

"Paul wasn't just an outsourced marketing leader — he was a mentor. His support helped me enhance my technical marketing skills and shape a more strategic mindset, as well as build my  confidence with senior leadership and deliver higher-impact work. On a personal note, Paul is also incredibly friendly, easy to work with, and someone I'll continue to stay in touch with. He is dependable and skillful, and his guidance has made me feel more capable and prepared for future challenges."

Caitlin Daniels
Marketing Manager, CatSci Ltd

‍About VCMO

VCMO is a UK-based provider of fractional marketing services, supporting B2B SMEs—ranging from funded scale-ups to mid-tier and private equity-backed businesses—through key moments of growth and transformation. Its Chartered Fractional CMOs and SOSTAC® certified planners embed strategic marketing leadership into organisations navigating product launches, new market entry, acquisitions, and leadership gaps.